The first trains of the Spanish railway company connect Lyon and Barcelona on Thursday July 13, before Marseille-Madrid links on July 28. Renfe intends to take advantage of the opening to competition of rail in France.
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After Trenitalia, it’s Renfe’s turn. With the opening to competition of the French rail market, the first trains of the Spanish company will run from this Thursday July 13 between Lyon and Barcelona, for a direct journey of 5 hours compared to 5:30 hours with a change in the best configuration for the SNCF.
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The introductory prices are very attractive, 29 euros for a departure from Lyon Part Dieu station. However, these rates will increase in the fall. The operator thus hopes to win over travelers through the quality of its trains and their punctuality. For Renfe international manager Susana Lozano, “we have a high-speed service with attributes, very firm punctuality compromises, that sets us apart from other operators“.
“Develop the Lyon-Paris frequency”
In two weeks, 31,000 tickets were sold on the historic territory of the SNCF. This additional competitor for the French operator has an appetite and intends to make a place for itself on the Paris Lyon strategic corridor. “For us, it is important to be able to establish ourselves here in Lyon and be competitive with the SNCFwelcomes Sonia Araujo-Lopez, general manager of Renfe travelers, we are going to develop the Lyon-Paris frequency, like that of Lyon-Barcelona and Marseille-Madrid. The interest is to be able to possibly develop other line possibilities in the future.”
The Italian Trenitalia has already positioned itself in this Lyon-Paris segment. Renfe plans to serve the French capital from 2024.